Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-12-15


stantly reminded of the manner in which they
impose a burden upon those who consume do
mestic products as well as those who consume
imported articles, and thus create tax upon all
our people.
1t is not proposed to entirely relieve the coun-
try OF this taxation. 1t must be extensively con-
tinued as the source of the governments income I;
and in a readjustment of our tariff the interests
Of American labor engaged in manufacture
should be carefully considered, as well as the
preservation OF our manufacturers. It may be
called protection, or by any other name, but re-
lief from the hardships and dangers OF our pres
ent tariff laws, should be devised with especial
precaution against imperiling the existence Of
our manufacturing interests. But this existence
should not mean condition which, without re-
gard to the public welfare or national exigency,
must always insure the realization OF immense
profits instead OF moderately profitable returns.
As the volume and diversity Of our national ac-
hvities increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire a continuation OF the advantages
which they conceive the present system OF
tariff taxation directly affords them So stub
bornly ha sc all efforts TO reform the present con-
dition been resisted by those OF our felow-cih-
Eens thus engaged, that they can hardly COM
plain of the suspicion, entertained to a certain
extent. that there exists an organized combina-
ton all along the line to maintain their advan-
tage.
We are in the midst of centennial celebrations
and with becoming pride we rejoice in American
skill and ingenuity in American energy and en-
terprise, and in the wonderful natural advan-
cages and resources developed by centuryss
national growth Yet when an attempt Is made
to justify II scheme which permits a tax to be
laid upon every consumer in the land for the ben
emit OF our manufacturers quite beyond
sonable demand for governmental regard, 1t suits
the purposes Of the manufacturers and infant
Industries still needing the highest and greatest
degree OF favor and care that can be wrung from
federal legislation. 1t is also said that the in
crease in the price Of domestic manufactures
resulting from the enttartf is necessaryin Or
der that higher wages may be paid than for what
Is called pauper labor in Europe. In all we ac-
knowledge the force OF argument which in
wolves the welfare and liberal compensation OF
our laborins people. Our labor is honorable in
the eyes of every American citizen. and lies at
the foundation Of our Development 1t is entitled
without affectation or hypocrisy to the utmost
regard The standard of our laborers life should
not be marred by that OF another country less
favored, and they are entitled to their full share
Of our advantages.
By the last census it is made to appear that OF
the II 392, 099 OF our population engaged in all
kinds of industries $40, 493 employed in agri
culture, 4,074.239 in professional and personal
services r. 400 $40 of whom are domestic servants
and laborersl, while l, $40 250 are Employed in
trade and transportation, and 3.S37,ll2 are
classed as employed ct manufacturing and min
Ing. For present purposes. however the latter
humber should.be considerably reduced. Without
attempting to enumerate ALL 1t will be conceded
that there should be deducted from those which
1t includes 35. 1913 carpenters and oiners, 2S5 ITO
miliners. dress makers and seamstresses, 172 l26
blacksmths 133 756 tailors and tailoresses, 107,-
000 masons, rs 2ll butchers Al 800 bakers. a. lS2
plasterers and 4S01 manufacturing agricultural
implements leaving q 2S, 0S9 persons employed in
manufacturing industries as are claimed to be
benefited i'll high tariff.
To these the appeal is ma de to save their en-
ploynlent and maintain their wages by resisting
q change There should be no disposition TO an
swer such suggestions by the allegations that
they are in minority among those who
labor and therefore should forego an advantage
Ia the interest of low prices for the majority.
Their compensation, as it may be affected by
the operations of tariff laws should at all times
be scrupuiously kept in view; and yet with
slight reflections they will not overlook the fact
that they are consumers with the rest; that
they too have their own wants and those OF their
families to supply from their earnings, and that
the prices OF the necessnies of life as well as the
amount of those wants will regulate the measure
OF their welfare and comfort. But the reduction
Of taxation demanded should be SO measured as
not TO necessitate or justify either the loss OF
employment by the working nan FOR tho lessen
ing of his wage and the profits still remaining
to the manufacturer after necessary readjust-
ment should furnish no excuse for the sRcriice
of the interests OF his employers in either their
opportunity to work or the dinlnution of their
compensation. Nor can the worker in manu-
features understand that while high tariff is
claimed to DO necessary 10 allow payment OF re-
munerative wages, it certainly results in very
large increase in the price of nearly ali sorts OF
manufactures, which, in almost countless forms.
he needs for the use Of himself and his family.
He receives at the desk of his employer his
wages, and perhaps before ne reaches his home
is obliged in purchase for his family use OF an
article which embraces his own labor TO return
the tariff permits, the hard-earned compensation
Of many days of toll
The farmer and the agriculturist who manu-
features nothing, but who pay the incIeased
price which the tariff imposes upon every a. ri
cultural implement, upon all be wears and upon
all he uses and owns, except the inerea OF his
docks and herds and such things as his hus-
bandry produces fronAthe soil, is invited to aid
In maintaining the present situation mind, he Is
told that high duty on imported wool Is neces-
sary for the benefit OF those who have sheep to
shear in order that the DrlCD of their wool
be increased. They, of course are not reminded
that the farmer who has no sheep is by this
scheme obliged, id his pur bases OF clothing and
wooden goods, to pay a tribute to his fellow
farmer as well as to the manufacturer and mer-
chant nor is any mention made OF the fact that
the sheep owners thcmse YES and their house
holds, must wear clothing and use other articles
manufactured from the wool they sell at tariff
prices, and thus s consumers, must return their
share OF this increased price to the fradoaman 1
think it may ue fairly assumed that large pro-
portion of the sheep owned by the farmers
throughout the country are found in small nocks
numbering from twenty-five tS,. to Atty.
ported wool which these sheep yield is 10 cents
on each pound if of the value Of 80 cents less,
and IL cents If of the value of more than 80 cents
If tho liberal estimate of six pounds be allowed
for each fleece, the duty thereon would he 60 or
~ cents, and this may be taken as the utmost en-
hancement OF its price to the farmer by reason
of this duty. Eighteen dollars would thus repre-
sent the increased price Of the wool from twenty
Ave sheep and $50 that from the wool OF atty
sheep and at present values this addition would
amount to about one-third Of its price. II upon
its sale the farmer receives this or less tariff
profit the WOO leaves his hands charged with
precisely that sum. which in all its changes will
here to it, until it reaches the consumer.
Whe1 manufactured into cloth and other g DDS
nd material for use its cost Is not only increased
to the extent OF the farmers tariff profit, but n
further sum has been added for the benefit OF the
manufacturer under tho operation OF other tariff
laws.
In the meantime tho day arrives when the
farmer finds it necessary TO purchase wooden
goods ami material to clothe himself and family
for the winter When he faces the brakeman
for that purpose, he discovers that he is obliged
not only TO return in the way Of increased prices,
his tariff profit on the wool he sold, and which
then perhaps lies before him in manufactured
orlp, bat that he must add considerable sum
thereto t. meet q further increase in cost caused
by tariff duty on the manufacture. Thus in
The end, he is aroused to the fact that he has
paid up ON moderate purchase, as a result OF
seemed so profitable, en- increase In price more
than sufficient to sweep away all the tariff profit
he received upon the wool he produced and
sold.
When the number of farmers engaged in wool
raising is compared with all the farmers in the
country, and the small proportion they bear to
our population is considered; when it is made
apparent that, In the of large part OF those
who own sheep, the benefit of the present tariff
ON wool is ilusory; and, above all, when 1t must
be conceded that the increase OF the cost of liy-
ing caused Dy Sucn LarllI DecOlueb u Durueu upon
those with moderate means, and the poor, the
employed and the unemployed, the sick and
we'll, and the young and old, and that it consti-
tutes q tax which, with relentless grasp, Is fast
ened upon the clothing OF every man, women
and child in the land, reasons are suggested why
the removal or reduction of this duty should be
included I'M revision of our tariff laws
In speaking of the increased cost to the con-
sumner of our home manufactures, resulting from
a duty laid upon imported articles of the same
4 scription the tact is not overlooked that COM
petition among our domestic producers some
times has the effect Of keeping the price of their
products below the highest limit allowed by such
DUTY But il is notorious that this competition
is too often strangled by combinations quite pre-
vale Mt at this time and frequently called trusts
which have for their object tho regulation of the
supply and price Of commodities made and sold
by members OF the combination. The people
can hardly hope for any consideration in the
opera ton of these selfish Bchemers. II, how
ever, in the absence of such combination,
healthy and free competition reduces the price
any particular dutiable article of home pro
uction, below the limit which it mi; hit otherwise
REACH under our tariff laws, and if, with such re-
duced price, its manufacture continues to thrive.
it is entirely evident that one thing has been
discovered which should be carefully scrutinized
In an efforG to reduce taxation. The necessity Of
combination to maintain the price Of any com
modityl the tariff point furnishes proof that
some one is willing to accept lower prices for
such commodity, and that such prices are re-
munerative; and later prices produced by COM
,,etition prove the same thing. Thus where
either of these conditions exist a case would
seem to be presented for an easy reduction OF
taxation.
The considerations which have been presented
touching our tariff laws are intended only to en-
force an earnest recommendation that the sur
plus revenues of the government be prevented by
the reduction of our customs duties, and, at the
same time to emphasize q suggestion that in ac-
ccmplishing this purpose. we may discharge q
double duty to our people by granting to them a